Editing Geʽez (section)

=== 13th to 14th centuries ===

After the decline of the Aksumites, a lengthy gap follows; Some writers consider the period beginning from the 14th century an actual "Golden Age" of Geʽez literature—although by this time Geʽez was no longer a living language; in particular in the major enterprise of translating an extensive library of Coptic [[Arabic]] religious works into Geʽez.

While there is ample evidence that it had been replaced by Amharic in the south and by Tigrinya and Tigre in the north, Geʽez remained in use as the official written language until the 19th century, its status comparable to that of [[Medieval Latin]] in Europe.

At this time a lot of works of the [[Beta Israel]] had been turned into Hebraized (i.e. written in the [[Hebrew alphabet]]) Geʽez, which made the gradual process of Geʽez being the liturgical language of the Beta Israel.{{sfn|Budge|1928|p=574}}

The [[Ethiopic Alexander Romance|''Ethiopic Alexander Romance'']] was produced in this period, the most important Geʽez-language Alexander legend, translated from an earlier Arabic recension of the [[Alexander Romance]] work.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Asirvatham |first=Sulochana |date=2014 |title=The <i>Alexander romance</i> tradition from Egypt to Ethiopia |url=https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC165410 |journal=Acta Classica}}</ref> Important [[hagiographies]] from this period include:

* the ''Gadle Samaʼetat'' "Acts of the Martyrs"
* the ''Gadle Hawaryat'' "Acts of the Apostles"
* the ''Senkessar'' or ''[[Synaxarium]]'', translated as "The Book of the Saints of the Ethiopian Church"
* Other Lives of [[Anthony the Great|Saint Anthony]], [[Saint George]], Saint [[Tekle Haymanot]], Saint [[Gabra Manfas Qeddus]]

Also at this time the ''[[Apostolic Constitutions]]'' was retranslated into Geʽez from Arabic. Another translation from this period is Zena ʼAyhud, a translation (probably from an Arabic translation) of Joseph ben Gurion's "History of the Jews" ("Sefer [[Josippon]]") written in Hebrew in the 10th century, which covers the period from the Captivity to the capture of Jerusalem by Titus.
Apart from theological works, the earliest contemporary Royal Chronicles of Ethiopia are date to the reign of [[Amda Seyon I]] (1314–44). With the appearance of the "Victory Songs" of Amda Seyon, this period also marks the beginning of Amharic literature.
The 14th century ''[[Kebra Nagast]]'' or "Glory of the Kings" by the [[Neburaʼed Yeshaq]] of Aksum is among the most significant works of Ethiopian literature, combining history, allegory and symbolism in a retelling of the story of the [[Queen of Sheba]] (i.e., Saba), [[King Solomon]], and their son [[Menelik I of Ethiopia]]. Another work that began to take shape in this period is the ''Mashafa Aksum'' or "[[Book of Axum]]".{{sfn|Budge|1928|p=574}}